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With the demise of home economics in the school system, many adults have no baking experience at all, relying on dreary store-bought baked goods and artificial mixes to satisfy their cravings. Baking Basics and Beyond allows even absolute novices to prepare a wide array of delicious, healthy breads, cakes, cookies, pies, and more. In a warm, reassuring manner, Pat Sinclair leads beginning bakers step-by-step through each recipe, thoroughly explaining each technique and direction. After learning a basic technique, additional recipes provide further practice and more elaborate results. This second edition contains more than 100 recipes, from old favorites like icebox cookies, cornbread, and brownies to updated classics, including Butterscotch Cashew Blondies, Chai Latte Custards, and Savory Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding. Throughout, explanations and precise tips, based on Sinclair's years of baking experience, make readers feel as though there is a friendly teacher in the kitchen, peering over their shoulders, and guiding them toward perfect results, every time.

This new edition of this basic, down-to-earth, reader-friendly baking guide is updated with beautiful full color photos throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dozens of good baking cookbooks are on the market, but Baking Basics and Beyond, by Pat Sinclair, is notable both for its scope and its simplicity… this an ideal book for beginners.” ―The Record

"I’d recommend this cookbook for any kitchen, but especially for those that don’t have a lot of baking experience.” ―From Val's Kitchen

"Sinclair knows what she’s talking about. In her easy-going, uncomplicated manner, she leads beginning bakers through step-by-step instructions for everything from scones, biscuits, and cookies to pies, custards, and cheesecakes.” ―OneForTheTable.com

"This small book is a treat to read, as well as a feast for the eyes. Beautifully published, it would make a very special gift." ―National Association of Baby Boomer Women

"The book is a wonderful guide for those who think baking is too difficult to attempt. Sinclair writes as if she were standing in your kitchen, telling you exactly what to do so your cakes, pies, brownies, pizzas, coffee cakes, scones and muffins turn out right." –TableConversation.com

"Looks like I might find a passion in the world of baking after all.” ―Johnna Knows Good Food

"Baking Basics and Beyond is one of the best books on baking basics we’ve seen."―Dolce Dolce

"Besides delicious recipes, Pat shares some of the baking secrets she's picked up over 20+ years as a food consultant and cooking teacher. Intended to help you get it right the first time, they include a wealth of ah-ha tips." ―The Boomer Brief

"This cookbook is a gem! Pat Sinclair breaks baking down into simple, manageable steps. If you are a new or struggling baker, you will appreciate this cookbook!"―PremeditatedLeftovers.com

"Owning a copy of Baking Basics and Beyond is like having your own personal baking instructor on call 24 hours a day. ” ―Random Cravings

"All aspiring bakers really need is someone to offer a little gentle guidance in the kitchen. Pat Sinclair does just that in the newly revised second edition of 'Baking Basics and Beyond'" ―The Skillet Chronicles

Praise for first edition of Baking Basics and Beyond

"Offers help for rookie bakers with tips and suggestions following almost all recipes. Sinclair put the collection together after two decades of experience as a cooking teacher and consultant for companies, including Land O’Lakes and Pillsbury. The book offers good reminders for all home bakers.”Chicago Tribune

"The introduction to each of the 11 baked-goods chapters (plus one on frostings, sauce and the like) condenses a fair amount of information into a page or two, and each of the many recipes--which in this case are among the reasons to buy the book--carries one or more useful tips. Sinclair, a Minneapolis food consultant and cooking teacher, also knows when to say 'yummy': The brief precedes to the recipes are descriptive and enticing. Both beginning bakers and experienced hands may find something enjoyable here."Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"A hands-on guide for bakers of all levels and skills, with more than 120 baking-from-scratch recipes. Easy instructions."Desert Leaf magazine

"Baking Basics and Beyond by Pat Sinclair is a good basic primer for quick breads, baked desserts, and yeast breads. Learn why cakes stick in the center or why pie crusts are tough.<Toledo Blade

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

I love the beginning of the book. It contains a comprehensive list of what items you'll need to have a "complete" kitchen and explains what ingredients do and how they work with each other. I learned a lot in that section. The rest of the book contains recipes. Each section contains a description of that type of baked good, as well as some history, suggestions, tips, and techniques. Many, not all, recipes include a photo. The photos are gorgeous, they all look so appetizing that they make me want to bake, and to eat. Each of the recipes includes a description of the specific dish, ingredients, instructions, a bakers note on prep, and other suggestions. The only thing I found missing from the book to make it perfect was cooking and prep time. I'd recommend this cookbook for any kitchen, but especially for those that don't have a lot of baking experience. I'm looking forward to going through it and working on my own baking skills. Read more at [...]

I downloaded this for my Kindle as I love to bake and thought there is always more to learn. I loved the book, very informative, great recipes. I enjoyed making many of the recipes included and the tips and tricks are quite helpful. It's alway interesting to me to learn just why a certain ingredient should be used over another and I think that that, more then just the great recipes, sets this apart from many other cookbooks.

I would not however recommend the Kindle version. Many of the bottoms of pages were cut off for some reason. I have over 1000 books on my kindle and even more stored and have never had this problem before or since this particular book. I was hoping I could just use the kindle for the recipes but I am back to printing or writing them out.

Baking Basics tells you everything you ever wanted to know about baking-and then some. The first section has a list of pans, equipment and ingredients commonly used in baking. Ingredients are listed separately and some information is given for each ingredient such as the types of yeasts and how to successfully use them, the chocolates and how to melt them. Most of the ingredients are staples that you will already have in your cupboards; however, should there be an unusual ingredient a suggested substitution is given such as almond extract for Amaretto liqueur. More is told about ingredients as they are being used. At the end of the recipe are Baker's Notes and/or Secrets to Success, which give extra hints, techniques or substitutions.

At the beginning of each section are more easy-to-follow directions and guidance to help increase your success. Each recipe has step-by-step, clear and understandable directions. The recipes are familiar foods such as cinnamon-coated snickerdoodles, tangy, luscious lemon meringue pie and basic pizza. A few not so familiar but deceptively easy include Tourtiere, the French Canadian meat pie. I recommend the Savory Chicken Cobbler, a cross between a chicken pot pie and chicken and dumplings. This dish is light and easy, using a rotisserie chicken and frozen mixed vegetables. Make_ certain you have several people to share the 4-6 servings, or you will eat it all.

The Beyond part of the cookbook is "embellishments that transform a cake from basic to deluxe." Simple-to-do frostings, sauces, glazes and garnishes that add something special to desserts, taking them from so-so to spectacular.Read more ›

I do a lot of baking and have made two items so far and can't wait to make more! The chocolate chip scones came together so easy and were wonderful on there own but add the strawberry butter and it took it to another level. So glad I bought this and will be giving at the next bridal shower.

I learned how to make so many new things! I learned the difference between so many different baked goods! I even learned what i was doing wrong with my pie crusts for years! (No wonder they weren't perfect!).

The author's hints and suggestions are great! And the recipes are simple and yummy!! I love love love this book!

Oh and for the people who are saying "don't buy the kindle version because the pages are cut off"? It's not! There's a little arrow that allows you to scroll down. They just made each page longer instead of more pages in the book.

I first purchased this for my Kindle, but some of the recipes were cut off. Since the entire book was so good, I decided to purchase it so I could easily use it. I collect cookbooks, but I also use them all the time. I am retired and love to be in the kitchen cooking and/or baking. This is a wonderful cookbook with outstanding recipes, tips, and more. Even those of us who are experienced in the baking department could use a basic cookbook such as this one. If I'd have any complaint, it would be the fact that I'd love more photos included.

I also will say that I've always been very pleased with Amazon and my purchases. However, not so much with this order. I received this cookbook with the front cover's edge completely folded over. I had also received another item in this shipment that was slightly bent. I honestly didn't want to bother with sending the items back so kept them and I guess I shouldn't complain.